§ 1. Sir Oliver Simmondsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which foreign Governments still continue to refuse to the United Nations satisfactory assurances that they will not harbour enemy war criminals.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Eden)I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for South Bristol (Mr. A. Walkden) on 6th December last, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Sir O. SimmondsWhere does this matter stand? Were any decisions taken at Yalta, or are we allowing the situation to go by default?
§ Mr. EdenThe matter stands where it did in December. The Governments of all neutral countries have been approached on the matter, and have now given assurances on the subject. Broadly speaking, the Government regard these as not unsatisfactory.
§ 4. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the names of Dr. Goebbels and Herr Ribbentrop are included in the official British list of war criminals.
§ Mr. EdenHis Majesty's Government regard these two Nazi leaders as major war criminals coming within the scope of the Declaration on German Atrocities at the Moscow Conference on 1st November, 1943.
§ Mr. DribergMay we take it, then, that their case will not be regarded as parallel to that of Count Grandi if they should attempt to take refuge in neutral countries?
§ Mr. GallacherIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Dr. Goebbels is likely to dodge them and will he agree that the reprimand made on me for offensive remarks about Ribbentrop should now be withdrawn by the Speaker and the House?
5. Miss Wardasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is to be the position under the new agreement with Italy of those Italians who are accused of having committed acts of cruelty against British troops and the troops or civilian populations of our Allies.
§ Mr. EdenThe position of Italians accused of acts of cruelty against British troops and the troops or civilian populations of our Allies has undergone no change. Italian war criminals are being listed and will, as is the case with German war criminals, be punished according to the crimes they have committed.